Review: Mijenta Tequila Blanco
Mijenta Tequila Blanco was launched September 2020. Former Bacardi CEO Mike Dolan partnered with Maestra Tequilera Ana Maria Romero in crafting the brand. Mijenta Reposado is currently barrel aging. Mijenta is inspired by Mi Gente meaning “my people” and refers to a collective mind set. It is made from 100% agave grown in deep red soil in the Highland region. Once harvested and hand trimmed the agave is slow cooked and fermented with proprietary yeast strains. A triple distillation in pot stills follows. The tequila rests for 45 days prior to bottling unfiltered. All paper related components including the label and box are made from agave waste. Read more 
Review: Whiskeysmith Banana Whiskey
Whiskeysmith Banana Whiskey was launched October 2020, along with Whiskeysmith Pineapple, and Whiskeysmith Chocolate. They join a flavored whiskey lineup that includes the previously reviewed PB&W Peanut Butter Whiskey. The Whiskeysmith brand appears to be associated with Old Elk Distillery, but they go out of their way to separate the Old Elk Whiskey and Whiskeysmith brands. It is unclear where Whiskeysmith is actually distilled and flavored. One possibility is the Old Elk Distillery in Fort Collins but there are some bread crumbs that hint at a possible Minnesota connection. Also unclear are the ingredients used to create this whiskey as none are included on their website, Facebook, or the bottles label. Read more
Review: Belching Beaver Hard Seltzer
Belching Beaver Hard Seltzer was launched September 2020. It is produced by Belching Beaver Brewery in Oceanside California. Belching Beaver Brewery was established 2012 by Tom Vogel, Troy Smith and Dave Mobley from their desire to make great beer and have a dam good time. The year round beer list includes Hazers Gonna Haze, Deftones Phantom Bride IPA, Here Comes Mango IPA, Me So Honey Blonde, and Peanut Butter Milk Stout. While they still love making beer, CEO Tom Vogel admits they were all packing on the pound so they developed a low carb, no sugar added easy drinking seltzer that weighs in with only 110 calories per 12 ounce serving. Belching Beaver is currently available in 3 varieties including Passion Fruit & Guava, Pineapple & Mango, and Raspberry & Blackberry. All are made from purified carbonated water, alcohol derived from cane sugar, and real fruit puree. Read more
Review: Abita Spring Loaded Spiked Sparkling Water
Abita Spring Loaded Spiked Sparkling Water was launched April 2020 with the release of Abita Spring Splash Berry and Abita Spring Watermelon. They have since added Citrus Smash, and Mango to their flavor lineup. The Abita Brewing Company was founded in 1986 by Jim Patton and Rush Cummings. The brewery is located 30 miles north of New Orleans. They currently brew over 125,000 barrels of beer and 13,500 barrels of soda. Some of their 15 year round beers include Turbodog Ale, Purple Haze, Amber Lager, and Big Easy IPA. Abita Spring Loaded is made from a Louisiana sugar cane alcohol base. All natural ingredients and artesian spring water drawn straight from the Southern Hills aquifer.
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Review: Hard Truth Peanut Butter Whiskey
Hard Truth Peanut Butter Whiskey was released in November. It is crafted in Brown County Indiana by Master Distiller Bryan Smith, with two year old straight bourbon whiskey and natural flavors. Bryan did not want to create a me too product so he started with a premium whiskey base and balanced the sweet natural peanut butter flavors with sea salt. Hard Truth Distillery produces several spirits including Schoonover Straight Bourbon Whiskey, McCabes Irish Whiskey, Sipes Straight Bourbon Whiskey, White Oak Reserve Rum, Toasted Coconut Rum Cream, Toasted Coconut Rum, Original Vodka, Gin, and Cinnamon Vodka Read more
Review: Blue Ox Coconut Rum
Blue Ox Coconut Rum is one of ten Blue Ox Spirits produced at Red Boot Distillery in Grimes Iowa. Red Boot Distillery is a private labeling and co-packing company owned by Stuart Oxer. Stuart also owns the Blue Ox Spirits brand and the Oxtails line of Canned Cocktails. Blue Ox Vodka has been the best selling Iowa made spirit in the state of Iowa for the last few years. Blue Ox is a value priced line of spirits currently available in 10 Midwestern states. Blue Ox Coconut Rum does not list its ingredients on the bottles label or company website but it weighs in at 42 proof and is sold in 1 liter bottles. Read more
Review: Frozen Falls Vodka
Frozen Falls Vodka is one of several spirits crafted at Falls Church Distillery in Falls Church Virginia. The others include several gins, rums, brandies, and whiskies. This should not be confused with the other Frozen Falls Vodka that is produced by Honeoye Falls Distillery near Rochester New York. Falls Church Distillery is a Veteran owned family operated craft distillery opened by the father and son team of CEO Michael Paluzzi and Distiller Lorenzo Paluzzi, July 2017. Frozen Falls is made in small batches in a custom built column still from a blend of cane sugar and wheat. Once distilled a unique filtration process follows before hand bottling. For the record the other Frozen Falls Vodka is made from rye. Read more
Review: SomruS Coffee Cream Liqueur
SomruS Coffee Cream Liqueur was introduced September 2020 by SomPriya Fine Spirits. It joins SomruS Chai and SomruS Mango in their Indian inspired cream liqueur lineup. SomruS translates to Nectar of Gods in ancient Sanskrit. SomruS Coffee Cream Liqueur is itself inspired by South India’s “Kaapi”. Kaapi, also known as South Indian Filter Coffee is made by mixing frothed and boiled milk with finely ground coffee powder in a traditional Indian filter. SomruS Coffee Cream Liqueur is made from coffee and chicory with real Wisconsin dairy cream and five time distilled Caribbean rum. Read more
Review: Blind Squirrel Peanut Butter Whiskey
Blind Squirrel Peanut Butter Whiskey is one of 17 peanut butter whiskeys we have reviewed. While that may seem like a lot they keep making more so they must be selling. This is also the second squirrel themed peanut butter whiskey to go with the many sheep, ram, dog, and elephant themed peanut butter whiskeys already on the market today. Blind Squirrel is produced by Universal Brands in Princeton Minnesota making it the third peanut butter whiskey made in the Gopher State. Read more
Review: The Dublin Liberties Murder Lane
The Dublin Liberties Murder Lane is a single malt Irish Whiskey aged for 13 years in first fill bourbon barrels and finished in Tokaj Wine casks. Tokaj wine comes from the Northern Hungary and Southeast Slovakia region. Murder Lane is named for an unnamed alley between Bow Street and James Street in Dublin Ireland. In the early 1600’s many men, women, and children met an unpleasant fate there. It is one of 4 expressions in The Dublin Liberties family of Irish Whiskey. The others include Oak Devil, a 5 year old blended Irish Whiskey. Copper Alley, a single malt Irish whiskey aged for 10 years in first fill bourbon barrels and finished in 30 year old Oloroso Sherry Casks. Finally Keepers Coin, a single malt Irish Whiskey aged for 16 years in first filled bourbon barrels and finished in Pedro Jimenez sherry casks. Read more